167 Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943) Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov is considered one of the most prominent and famous Russian composers of the late Romantic period and certainly one of the giants of the piano. He was born on April 1, 1873 in Novgorod, Russia, to an aristocratic family which lost its assets, and he died on March 28, 1973 in Beverly Hills, California USA. The influence of Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Balakirev, Mussorgsky and other Russian composers is evident in his early works, but later gives way to his personal style, featuring song-like melodies, with exceptional expressive feel along with rich 'orchestral' colors. Rachmaninov began studying piano at an early age and his musical education was deeply influenced by his mother, a talented pianist and singer. He was accepted at the St. Petersburg Conservatory aged 9 and quickly gained a reputation as a pianist with exceptional talent and technique. He probably had the longest fingers among pianists, which is reflected in his piano writing. Already at age 18 he composed his first piano concerto. Rachmaninov frequently suffered, even in his youth, from depression, which arose mainly after the premiere of his failed First Symphony. This disappointment, together with negative reviews, led to a long period of severe despair and a loss of confidence in his capabilities as a composer. In an effort to overcome this and on the advice of his family, Rachmaninov sought treatment from Dr. Nikolai Dahl, a psychotherapist who also practiced hypnosis. Although these encounters did not heal the depression completely, they helped restore some motivation and confidence in his composition skills. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, he was forced to flee Russia and eventually settled in the United States, becoming an American citizen. Despite the upheaval in his personal life, his career as a pianist and composer continued to flourish in the United States. From his arrival there in 1918, he found himself in great demand, so much so that he had to slow down and restrict composing new works to the summer months only. Thanks to his great success, he earned enough money to build his house in Los Angeles (an exact replica of his original home in Russia). American music and jazz, as well as his acquaintance with leading American composers such as Gershwin, Barber, and Copland, had a significant influence on works composed during his time in the United States. Rachmaninov's deep understanding of the piano's potential as a performance instrument is certainly one of the main factors in the attractiveness of his works, the technical challenges of which were not intended solely for the sake of virtuosity but as a tool to serve the music. Most of his piano works are collections of relatively short pieces, but beyond these, Rachmaninov composed for a wide variety of instruments, for vocal and chamber ensembles, songs, operas, suites for orchestra and three symphonies. His fame came mainly from his four concerti for piano and orchestra (especially the Second and Third) and another work – the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Theme and 24 Variations for Piano and Orchestra in A Minor, Op. 43 A rhapsody is a musical work usually based on folk material and written as a single free structure in which the different musical themes are not separated from each other. However, Rachmaninov's Rhapsody is actually based on two themes – one from the last of Paganini’s 24 Caprices for solo violin, and the other a "Dies Irae" motif from a Requiem Mass dating back to the Middle Ages. Opening Event
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